Body image: instrument or ornament?

Item Type Article

Authors Holland, Fiona G.

Citation Holland, F. (2009) ‘Body image: instrument or ornament?’ SportEx Dynamics (21), pp.7-9.

Publisher Sport Ex

Journal Sport Ex Dynamics

Download date 30/09/2021 10:08:48

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10545/560947 Body image: instrument or ornament?

By Fiona Holland, MA, PGCE Body dissatisfaction is common in both men and women. Both INTRODUCTION genders have negative responses to the media images of the Body image is a complex and multidimensional construct idealised, slim, toned or muscled physique. Therapists working in encompassing how we feel, think and close contact with clients can have a profound effect on how a client behave (1). We all have a relationship views their own body. with our body, but in many cases this relationship can be more negative than positive. Body dissatisfaction is Therapist-client relationship common in both men and women Box 1: Media image As body-centred therapists (1–3), and research has indicated that A total of 900 women aged 18–24 years were surveyed (eg. massage/sports therapists, both genders have negative responses in 1998 (11): physiotherapists, complementary n to the images of the idealised, slim, Only 25% were happy with their weight. therapists, personal trainers, injury n toned or muscled physiques that we 20% dieted either all or most of the time. rehabilitators), we often underestimate n observe on from the pages of celebrity 55% thought that men rate looks as the most the power of our words, actions and magazines, advertisements and the attractive thing in a woman. influence over our clients, especially n internet (4,5). One study in male Only 1% thought that men rate intelligence as the most in terms of the messages around university students showed that their attractive thing in a woman. body image and body dissatisfaction. n body dissatisfaction increased after 22% admitted to staying at home because they didn’t Research has shown that body image exposure to advertisement images of think they looked good. becomes more negative in situations n more muscled males compared with 61% felt inadequate compared with the media’s image that are more body-focused (6). The exposure to average-sized males (4), of beautiful women. treatment room or gym is therefore a n while women have been shown to 91% felt that it was bad that the media always portray place where body-image issues may devalue their bodies when exposed so-called “perfect” women. be highlighted. n to media images of thin women (5). 89% wanted more average-sized models to be used in In the therapist–client relationship, In 1998, the Bread for Life Campaign magazines. clients step into the sometimes n surveyed over 900 young women aged 63% wanted fewer dieting features in magazines. vulnerable role of needing help, support between 18 and 24 years. The survey or care, and negative body-related found that 61% of young women feel statements often rise to the surface. inadequate compared with the media’s This may be due to apprehension on image of beautiful women. See Box The treatment room the part of the client, possibly around 1 for more statistics from this survey. or gym is a place the idea of being seen and judged. We Therapists working in close contact may hear comments such as “I’m really with clients can have a profound effect where body-image issues sorry: I didn’t shave my legs”, “You on how clients view their own body. may be highlighted want to do massage on my triceps?

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I just wobble there!” or “I don’t have have “detrimental consequences for Box 2: Client–therapist dialogue any muscles: I’m just fat everywhere!” women’s self-objectification and body Client 1: “You want to work on my feet? I have Conversely, some clients’ anxiety may image” (9). horrible feet!” be expressed in statements such as I would suggest that our role as Negative responses: “You should see mine!”, “I have “Don’t relax my muscles too much: therapists is not to label these types of some elderly clients whose feet are like claws!” I want them to be toned”, or clients statement as “wrong” but to tread with Neutral response: “Feet are really important in giving may search for validation in statements caution when we hear people make our body a stable base, and so it is really important to such as “I’ve been training hard and such comments. We are in a position give them attention.” lost half a stone. Can you tell?” of power with our clients and have no idea whether our unintended flippant Client 2: “My lower back is sore, probably because TOUCH remark may initiate a downward cycle I’ve got all this weight up front.” Clients (including those in relationships) of anxiety or negative behaviour that Negative responses: “You enjoy a few beers, then?”, may be touch-deprived and be could result in binge eating, exercise “Yes, well, we all have our crosses to bear!” unfamiliar with the contact experienced addiction, steroid use, purging or Neutral response: “There are many reasons for back through massage, or of trainers moving depression. Box 2 shows some typical pain – it is a complex issue. I’m going to work on your their limbs into position for exercise or examples of client–therapist dialogue. back and gluteal muscles first and see what we find – stretching. The resulting nervousness These examples may seem somewhat are you comfortable with this?” Body image: can perpetuate body-shaming artificial or extreme, but my aim is to statements, which may be aimed at give you some food for thought in your Client 3: “You probably won’t be able to feel my eliciting a response from the therapist. upcoming treatments. muscles under all this flab.” instrument As Deane Juhan states, “touch is food” Negative responses: “Don’t worry – they’re in there for our whole system (7), a statement THERAPIST’S OWN BODY somewhere!’, Did you give up the walking programme supported by research with premature IMAGE you were doing?” babies who thrived when massaged The ancient adage “Physician, heal Neutral response: “Our bodies are all very different. My or ornament? regularly (8). thyself” applies to therapists, especially job is to support you in feeling better, to see whether massage professionals: if we are you can breathe easily into your hard-working legs as I BE POSITIVE working in this sometimes intimate field, work.” As body-centred therapists, we have and the body is the interface between to be careful not to perpetuate our us and our clients, then our hands, our clients’ negativity and instead to focus words and our actions all have effect. If body and may have the luxury of time on helping rather than potentially we touch the surface, we can stir the or an ongoing therapeutic relationship harming. It is easy to overempathise depths. If we too feel that we are in that other health professionals such (“Oh, yes, I have love handles too!”, discord with our body, whether we are as general practitioners do not. If we “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before”), to addicted to exercise, are constantly can provide more neutral or body as deny clients’ feelings (“No, no, you’re dieting, are somewhat narcissistic, or “functional instrument” rather than as not fat at all”), to make a joke out of simply have the “normal” hang-ups “decorative ornament”-type answers, their statement (“Bingo wings!”) or about our “imperfections”, then the then, although our clients may not even to jump into advising the client on treatment room is not the place to recognise it, we are offering them a how they can lose weight, thus giving share these. We need to create a new way to relate to their body. Instead the message that their current weight professional and safe space for our of avoiding the abdominal area in a is not acceptable. All of these come clients and seek to explore our own client with back pain, for example, we from a place of judgement and move body-based messages independently could take this opportunity to educate us out of the client-centred core that of our role as the one “in charge”. the client about the importance and is at the heart of our profession – the As an instructor and trainer, both function of core muscles and why it place of “unconditional positive regard”, observing and receiving massage over may be important to include a term first coined by the pioneering a number of years, I wonder whether them in a massage psychologist and humanist Carl Rogers our own negativity about body image session. We can then (12). Unconditional positive regard is a is the reason why many massage leave the decision to place of acceptance that we offer our professionals do not include the client, so when they clients, regardless of how successful abdominal massage in are comfortable enough to their training regimen is, how much their work. Do we feel receive touch on this perhaps weight they have lost, what their body as comfortable long-neglected area, they understand looks like or how they feel about their working with that our intention is to help them body. Researchers suggest that in gluteals as functionally, not to judge them women, both positive and negative we do with quadriceps? Are we aesthetically. We therefore allow the body-oriented comments result in as confident treating people’s client to make the decision from a increases in body “surveillance” and adductors as we are their more informed place rather than body dissatisfaction (8), perhaps abductors? Is there something from a place of fear of judgement. due to the indication that others are more to this avoidance that we focusing on their outward appearance. don’t always acknowledge? As THERAPIST SUPPORT This supports the idea that even professionals, we have a chance We ourselves as therapists seemingly innocuous comments may to educate our clients about their should seek support, supervision

www.sportEX.net 15 or counselling, enabling us to ultimately serve our clients better. Working individually with a client- centred counsellor is one option; creating a support system with other professionals with a similar interest is another. Alternatively, finding a peer counselling group (eg. re-evaluation counselling (RC) in the local community or finding a mentor in the field willing to work as a clinical supervisor are also solutions.

CONCLUSION In summary, if we can facilitate greater harmony and respect for the body, Therapists often perhaps our clients will move towards underestimate the power wellbeing and we can help to maintain and facilitate this path for them, not of their words and actions just “fix” the machine when it breaks down. Box 3 shows some body image- Journal of Psychosomatic Research risk factor for body image disturbance and boosting activities. This message does 2004;56:675–685 eating pathology. Current Directions in 2. McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA. Body image Psychological Science 2001;10:181–183 not always have to be communicated and body change techniques among 6. Haimovitz D, Lansky LM, O’Reilly P. overtly: if we come from a place of young adolescent males. European Eating Fluctuations in body image across situations. acceptance rather than judgement, if Disorder Review 2001;9:1–13 International Journal of Eating Disorders we are conscious of our own body- 3. Vincent MA, McCabe MP. Gender 1993;13:77–84 shaming statements and if we try to differences among adolescents in family 7. Juhan D. Job’s Body: A Handbook for and peer influences on body dissatisfaction, Bodywork, 3rd edn. Station Hill Press move towards more neutral responses weight loss and binge eating behaviours. 2006. ISBN 1581770995 when our clients state them, we can Journal of Youth and Adolescence 8. Field T. Touch therapy on development. offer truly unconditional touch – a rare 2000;29:205–211 International Journal of Behavioural gift. 4. Lorenzen LA, Grieve FG, Thomas Development 1998;22:779–797 A. Exposure to muscular male models 9. Calogero RM, Herzobo S, Thompson K. decreases body satisfaction. Sex Roles Complimentary weightism: the potential References 2004;51:743–748 costs of appearance-related commentary for 1. McCabe MP, Ricciardelli LA. Body image 5. Thompson JK, Stice E. Thin-ideal women’s self objectification. Psychology of dissatisfaction among males across internalization: mounting evidence for a new Women Quarterly 2009;33:120–132 the lifespan: a review of past literature. Box 3: Body image-boosting activities CASE STUDY (adapted from Garner (10) I have been intrigued with the concept of body image within our profession n Find benchmarks other than appearance alone for since I began my massage training in the USA in 1996. In an informal pilot self-evaluation – recognise your achievements at work, study that I conducted for my independent study, I worked with four women. in your hobbies or in your relationships. The women had four 1-hour massages over the course of 4 weeks. I asked n Think of your body as an instrument rather than as an them to complete a body-image questionnaire before the first treatment and ornament: focus on how your body functions rather than after the last treatment. I also asked the women to shade in a “body map”, how it looks. indicating with different-coloured pencils which areas of their body they felt n Do activities that help you feel good about yourself. positive, neutral and negative about, with them adding adjectives connected Move your body in ways that feel good, and find ways to to these areas if possible. I let the women indicate each week which areas appreciate and take care of your body as though it were of their body they would like me to include in our session, offering them a trusted friend. Buy clothes that you feel good in – don’t the choice of full body (back including gluteals, legs, abdomen, arms, upper wait until you are one size smaller. chest, neck and head) or any areas that they felt comfortable with. Over the n Reduce your exposure to harmful media images: sessions, the women allowed me to work on progressively more areas; by stop buying fashion magazines and watching celebrity- the last session, the majority of the women received a full body massage, focused TV programmes. Focus on reality and self- including the abdomen (the first time any of the women had received massage nurturing rather than comparing yourself with unrealistic there). The women showed improvements in body esteem and mentioned role models. that they felt “accepted”, more “comfortable” and “connected” with different n Exercise for strength, fitness and health rather than parts of their body. When they re-shaded their body maps, the negative areas focusing on weight control. Throw away your scales! had become more neutral and a few of the neutral areas had even become Focus on the actions you have done rather than on a positive. The women I worked with knew I was interested in body acceptance, number on a somewhat unreliable machine. and perhaps this paved the way for our success, indicating that massage can n Find others who respect and care about your body. be a powerful way to help our clients heal in addition to relaxing their tight n Identify and begin to change negative or body- muscles or enhancing their sports performance. shaming statements.

16 sportEX dynamics 2009;21(Jul):14-17 therapy in practice

10. Garner D. Surver says: body image poll results. Psychology Today 1997 11. Beat. Beating eating disorders. www.b-eat.co.uk The Author 12. Rogers CR. Client-centered therapy: its current practice, implications Fiona Holland, MA BA PGCE is a senior lecturer and theory. Constable 1951. Current Edition ISBN 0395053226 at the University of Derby (Buxton). She leads the sports massage and exercise therapy pathway Some provocative articles and is programme leader for the MSc in wellbeing. n Field T, Schanberg S et al. Bulimic Adolescents Benefit from She is a nationally (USA) certified massage therapist with 9 Massage Therapy. Adolescence Fall 1998;33(131):555-563 years’ experience in private practice. She has worked in health n Hart S, Field T et al. Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms are Reduced promotion for 15 years and has led continuing professional by Massage Therapy. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment development workshops on body image for massage therapists and Prevention 2001;9:217-228 and wellbeing professionals. She can be reached at f.g.holland@ n Orbach, Susie. Fat Is A Feminist Issue: The Anti-Diet Guide for derby.ac.uk. Women. Galahad Books, 1997. First published as two separate volumes, Fat Is A Feminist Issue, 1978 and Fat Is A Feminist Issue II, 1982 n Pipher, Mary Bray, Ph.D. Hunger Pains: From Fad Diets to Eating Disorders – What Every Woman Needs to Know about Food, Dieting, and Self-Concept. Adams Publishing, 1995 n Thompson JK ed. Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity: An Integrative Guide for Assessment and Treatment. American Psychological Association 1996. Chapter 12, Treatment of Body Image Disturbance in Eating Disorders pp303-319 n Thompson JK, Heinberg LJ et al. Exacting Beauty – Theory, Assessment and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance. American Psychological Association 1999.

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